China Under Mao : A Revolution Derailed (Hardcover)--by Andrew G. Walder [2015 Edition] ISBN: 9780674058156

China’s Communist Party seized power in 1949 after a long period of guerrilla insurgency followed by full-scale war, but the Chinese revolution was just beginning. __China Under Mao__ narrates the rise and fall of the Maoist revolutionary state from 1949 to 1976—an epoch of startling accomplishments and disastrous failures, steered by many forces but dominated above all by Mao Zedong. Mao’s China, Andrew Walder argues, was defined by two distinctive institutions established during the first decade of Communist Party rule: a Party apparatus that exercised firm (sometimes harsh) discipline over its members and cadres; and a socialist economy modeled after the Soviet Union. Although a large national bureaucracy had oversight of this authoritarian system, Mao intervened strongly at every turn. The doctrines and political organization that produced Mao’s greatest achievements—victory in the civil war, the creation of China’s first unified modern state, a historic transformation of urban and rural life—also generated his worst failures: the industrial depression and rural famine of the Great Leap Forward and the violent destruction and stagnation of the Cultural Revolution. Misdiagnosing China’s problems as capitalist restoration and prescribing continuing class struggle against imaginary enemies as the solution, Mao ruined much of what he had built and created no viable alternative. At the time of his death, he left China backward and deeply divided. China s Communist Party seized power in 1949 after a long period of guerrilla insurgency followed by full-scale war, but the Chinese revolution was just beginning. 'China under Mao' narrates the rise and fall of the Maoist revolutionary state from 1949 to 1976 an epoch of startling accomplishments and disastrous failures, steered by many forces but dominated above all by Mao Zedong. Mao s China, Andrew Walder argues, was defined by two distinctive institutions established during the first decade of Communist Party rule: a Party apparatus that exercised firm (sometimes harsh) discipline over its members and cadres; and a socialist economy modeled after the Soviet Union. Although a large national bureaucracy had oversight of this authoritarian system, Mao intervened strongly at every turn. The doctrines and political organization that produced Mao's greatest achievements victory in the civil war, the creation of China s first unified modern state, a historic transformation of urban and rural life also generated his worst failures: the industrial depression and rural famine of the Great Leap Forward and the violent destruction and stagnation of the Cultural Revolution. Misdiagnosing China's problems as capitalist restoration and prescribing continuing class struggle against imaginary enemies as the solution, Mao ruined much of what he had built and created no viable alternative. At the time of his death, he left China backward and deeply divided." China Under Mao Narrates The Rise And Fall Of The Maoist Revolutionary State From 1949 To 1976. Andrew G. Walder Argues That Mao's China Was Defined By Two Distinctive Institutions: A Party Apparatus That Exercised Firm Discipline Over Its Members; And A Socialist Economy Modeled After The Soviet Union. Although A Large Bureaucracy Had Oversight Of This Authoritarian System, Mao Intervened At Every Turn. The Doctrines And Political Organization That Produced Mao's Greatest Achievements--victory In The Civil War, The Creation Of China's First Modern State, A Historic Transformation Of Urban And Rural Life--also Generated His Worst Failures: The Industrial Depression And Rural Famine Of The Great Leap Forward And The Destruction And Stagnation Of The Cultural Revolution. Misdiagnosing China's Problems As Capitalist Restoration And Prescribing Continuing Class Struggle Against Imaginary Enemies, Mao Ruined Much Of What He Had Built And Created No Viable Alternative--provided By Publisher. Funeral -- From Movement To Regime -- Rural Revolution -- Urban Revolution -- The Socialist Economy -- The Evolving Party System -- Thaw And Backlash -- Great Leap -- Toward The Cultural Revolution -- Fractured Rebellion -- Collapse And Division -- Military Rule -- Discord And Dissent -- The Mao Era In Retrospect. Andrew G. Walder. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. China's Communist Party seized power in 1949 after a long period of guerrilla insurgency followed by full-scale war, but the Chinese revolution was just beginning. China Under Mao narrates the rise and fall of the Maoist revolutionary state from 1949 to 1976—an epoch of startling accomplishments and disastrous failures, steered by many forces but dominated above all by Mao Zedong.“Walder convincingly shows that the effect of Maoist inequalities still distorts China today...[It] will be a mind-opening book for many (and is a depressing reminder for others).”—Jonathan Mirsky, The Spectator“Andrew Walder's account of Mao's time in power is detailed, sophisticated and powerful...Walder takes on many pieces of conventional wisdom about Mao's China and pulls them apart...What was it that led so much of China's population to follow Mao's orders, in effect to launch a civil war against his own party? There is still much more to understand about the bond between Mao and the wider population. As we try to understand that bond, there will be few better guides than Andrew Walder's book. Sober, measured, meticulous in every deadly detail, it is an essential assessment of one of the world's most important revolutions.”—Rana Mitter, Times Literary Supplement Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Preface 12 1. Funeral 18 2. From Movement to Regime 32 3. Rural Revolution 57 4. Urban Revolution 78 5. The Socialist Economy 99 6. The Evolving Party System 117 7. Thaw and Backlash 140 8. Great Leap 169 9. Toward the Cultural Revolution 197 10. Fractured Rebellion 217 11. Collapse and Division 258 12. Military Rule 290 13. Discord and Dissent 314 14. The Mao Era in Retrospect 342 Notes 374 References 404 Index 426